Alarm control for alarm clocks



Feb. 5, 1952 R. J. RAHN ALARM CONTROL FOR ALARM CLOCKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1947 our ALARn m SILINT JNVENTOR. RUDOLPH J RA ,4 T Tore/v FeB. 5, 1952 R. J. RAHN ALARM CONTROL FOR ALARM CLOCKS Filed June 11, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 F 9 4 7 ll l 5 29 5/ 9- 23 43' 44 34 as as 65 75 [-7 5 zzzz: A

INVENTOR. gg RUDOLPH J RAH/V ms BY MM v 24 ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1952 H 2,584,920

ALARM CONTROL FOR ALARM CLOCKS Filed June 11, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. RUDOLPH J. PflH/V Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALARM CONTROL FOR ALARM CLOCKS Rudolph J Rahn, Dayton, Ohio Application June 11, 1947., Serial No. 753,930

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an alarm mechanism for a clock and more particularly for an electric clock.

One object of the invention is to provide such an alarm mechanism which is automaticall operated, at the time for which it is set, once every twenty-four hours as long as the clock continues to operate and without attention by the user other than the shutting off of the alarm after its operation has been initiated.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an alarm mechanism having simple and compact means for initiating the operation of the alarm and for automatically resetting the same after the operation of the alarm has been interrupted. A further object of the invention is to provid an alarm mechanism in which the resetting means may be controlled either automatically or manually.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an alarm mechanism in which the operation of the alarm may be prevented for a twenty-four hour period and then automatically resumed without affecting the timing thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an alarm mechanism in which the alarm time setting device includes a twenty-four hour dial and means to enable the user to accurately select the twelve hour period in which the alarm will operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an alarm mechanism of simple and relatively inexpensive construction and which may be added to a standard clock mechanism without material change in that mechanism.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a clock equipped with the invention, portions of the front wall and dial of the clock casing being broken away; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the clock; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the alarm mechanism with the back wall of the casing removed; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section taken on'the line 5--5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of the device for interrupting the operation of the alarm; Fig. 8 is a perspective detail view of the resetting mechanism, showing the same adjusted for automatic control; and Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the resetting mechanism adjusted for manual control.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same in an electric clock of a known construction, but it is to be understood that the mechanism as a whole, as well as the several parts thereof, may take various forms, ma be embodied in clocks or other mechanisms of various kinds and may be used for various purposes, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the particular embodiment here illustrated the clock comprises front and rear frame members and 2| rigidly connected one to the other by tie rods 22 and spacin sleeves 23. The front frame member 20 is mounted on a supporting member or plate 24 which is connected with the rear portion 25 of the casing, as by screws 26, the rear. portion of the casing comprising a cylindrical part having a back wall 21. The front plate 24 of the casing carries a clock dial 28. Rotatably mounted in the frame members 20 and 2| is a minute shaft 29 which carries the minute hand 30 and the rear portion of which extends beyond the back wall of the casing and is provided with a knob 3| by which it may be rotated to adjust the hands. The minute shaft 29 is driven by a motor 32 through conventional gearing, a portion of which is shown at 33.

Secured to the minute shaft for rotation therewith is a ten tooth pinion 34 which meshes with a forty tooth gear 35 mounted on a stud shaft 36. A twelve tooth pinion 3! rigidly secured to the shaft 36 meshes with a seventy-two tooth gear 38 secured to a shaft 39 extending rear- Wardly therefrom and rotatably supported in the frame members. The twelve tooth pinion 3'! also drives a thirty-six tooth gear 40 which is secured to a tubular shaft 4| mounted about the front portion of the minute shaft and extending through the supporting plate 24 and the dial 28, and which carries at its outer end the hour hand 42. The ratio of the gearing is such that the minute shaft 29 makes twelve revolutions while the hour shaft 4i makes one revolution and the seventy-two tooth gear 38 and its shaft as make one revolution while the minute shaft makes twenty-four revolutions.

The alarm device, as here shown, is in the nature of a vibrator comprising a magnet 43. and movable member 44 to which vibratory movement is imparted by the magnet in a known manner. In the present instance the movable or vibratory member 44 is connected to a support' ing bracket 45 by a resilient connecting member or plate 46a and is supported in such relation to magnet pole 4511 that when the magnet is energized the member 4 produces a buzzing sound, which is sufiiciently loud for the present purpose. However, it is obvious that the sound producin device may be of any suitable character which can be controlled by the member 44. The free end of the movable member 44 extends inwardly above the shaft SJ and is provided with a part or follower G5 which normally rests upon a cam 4'1 mounted on the shaft 35 for rotation therewith, the cam making one complete rotation in each twenty-four hour period. The cam is so shaped that it will normally support the follower 4G and, therefore, the member 44 in an inoperative position, which will prevent the sounding of the alarm, and will release the follower and permit the member 44 to move to an operative or vibrating position when the cam is moved to a predetermined position. In the present instance the cam is circular in form and is provided with a peripheral notch 48 into which the follower 36 drops when the cam has moved to said predetermined position.

When the follower has entered the notch, thus initiating the operation of the alarm device, the latter will continue to operate until it is shut ofi, as by returning the movable member 54 to its normal inoperative position. For this purpose a bell crank 45 is pivotally mounted on arod 50 supported in the frame members and one arm of that bell crank is provided with a transverse finger 5! which is arranged beneath the movable member l i of the alarm device but is normally out of contact therewith. Manually operated means are provided for actuating the other arm, 52, of the bell crank and causing the finger 5i to engage the movable member 44 and return the same to its inoperative position, thus shutting off the alarm. The means for actuating the bell crank may take various forms and, in the present instance, it comprises a push rod 53 which is slidably mounted in the frame members and is provided with a cam to engage the arm 52 of the bell crank. Preferably this cam is frustroconical in form as shown at 54 and is so arranged that when the push rod is in its innermost position, as shown in Figs. '7 and 9, the larger end portion of the cone will be in engagement with the arm 52 of the bell crank and will retain the hell crank in a position to render the movable member 44 inoperative. When the push rod is retracted the smaller end portion of the cone is moved into line with the arm 52 and permits the bell crank to move in a direction to release the movable member 44 and thus permit the follower 6 to again engage the periphery of the cam 4?, thereby resetting the alarm mechanism and placing the same under the control of the cam 17. A yieldable detent 55 (Fig. 4) is arranged to ride over the larger portion of the cone and to yieldably retain the same in the position to which it has been moved and thus prevent the accidental displacement of the cone.

The push rod is provided at its outer end with a knob 58 whereby it may be manually operated. For the purpose of automatically retracting the push rod, and thereby resetting the alarm mechanism, there is mounted on the cam shaft 39 a resetting cam 57 which is connected with and rotates in unison with the cam 41. Means are provided for so connecting this cam with the push rod 53 that the latter will be retracted when the resetting cam 57 moves to a predetermined position. In the construction shown, an arm 58 is mounted on th frame for movement about a vertical axis 58a and the free end of the arm extends across the end portion of the push rod and is provided with an opening 59 through which that rod extends, the opening being preferably oblong in shape. The push rod is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and is provided with a cross head having tapered portions 6i extending beyond the respective sides of the shaft. This head is of such a size that when it is in a position substantially parallel with the opening 59 in the arm 58 it will pass through that opening, thus permitting the push rod to be manually operated. When the head is rotated to a position in which it extends transversely to the arm 58, and on the outer side thereof, the arm and push rod will move together and a lug E2 on the arm will be moved into or out of the path of an inclined lateral projection 63 on the resetting cam 51. When the push rod is moved inwardly to shut off the alarm the head 66 engages the arm 58 and moves the lug 62 into the path of the projection on the resetting cam 5?. The resetting cam is so positioned with relation to the alarm cam 41 that the lug 62 is at all times spaced circumferentially to the rear of the notch in the alarm cam, thus the further rotation of the resetting cam after the alarm has been shut oif will cause the projection 63 to engage the lug 62 on the arm 58 and move that arm and the push rod 53 outwardly and thereby release the bell crank 49 and permit the movable member 44 to move to operative position. The cam projection 63 on the resetting cam 5! may be arranged in any desired relation to the notch 48 in the alarm cam 41 so long as it is spaced in the rear of that notch such a distance that the push rod will not be retracted until the notch in the alarm cam has moved beyond the follower 46. For the purpose of yieldably retaining the head 60 on the push rod in the rotative position to which it has been moved, the cone is provided with two notches 64 spaced approximately ninety degrees one from the other and adapted to receive a resilient finger 65, mounted in a fixed position in the frame. The walls of the notches are tapered so that rotative pressure on the cone will move the finger out of one notch and release the cone for movement until the second notch is brought into line with the finger.

Mounted on the cam shaft 39 rearwardly beyond the resetting cam 51 is a dial 66 which is preferably of transparent material, such as a suitable plastic material and is provided on its rear face with an annular row of twentyfour graduations calibrated in hours and fractions of hours, the row of graduations being divided into two series and the graduations of each series are numbered from one to twelve. This dial is rigidly secured to the cam shaft so that it will rotate therewith. Mounted on the cam shaft between the dial and the resetting cam is an alarm time setting gear 61 which is frictionally connected with the dial in such a manner that it may rotate therewith when the cam shaft is rotated but may be rotated with relation to the cam shaft and to the dial. The setting gear 61 is provided with a mark 68 which is visible through the transparent dial and which may be moved by the rotation of the gear into line with a selected graduation on the dial, this mark being in such fixed relation to the alarm cam 41 that that cam will initiate the operation of the alarm at the time indicated on the dial by the mark or indicator. The gear 61 meshes with a pinion 68a on a rotatable shaft 59 which is provided with a knob 10 by which 'when the cam shaft is driven by the twentyfour hour gear 33. Preferably these parts are connected in the manner shown in Fig. 5 in which the alarm cam 4'! is provided with a hub 1i rotatably mounted in the frame member 2| and extending through and beyond that frame member. The resetting cam 51 is mounted on the hub on that side of theframe member opposite the alarm cam and the alarm time setting gear 61 is mounted on the hub il in the rear of the resetting cam 51. The dial 65 is threaded on the rear end of the shaft 39 and locked thereon by a nut 12. A friction element 13 is interposed between the alarm time settin gear 67 and the dial 6G. The hub ll of the alarm cam 41 is slidable on the cam shaft 39 and the resetting cam 51' and the alarm time setting gear 6"? are held against rotation with relation to the hub, as by providing a non-circular hub and providing the camand gear with non-circular openings through which the hub extends. A spring hi urges the alarm cam 41 rearwardly on the cam shaft 39 and thus maintains sufiicient frictional connection between the same and the dial 65 to cause them to rotate with the dial when the cam shaft is rotated.

The rear wall 21 of the clock casing is provided with an opening in line with the alarm time setting dial 66 and through which both the graduations on the dial and the mark 68 on the setting gear are visible. divided diametrically into a large diameter portion 655a through which twelve of the graduations on the dial may be seen and with a smaller diameter portion 66b which overlies and thus conceals the other twelve graduations on the dial but permits the indicating mark 68 on the setting gear to be seen. The enlarged portion of the opening is so arranged with relation to the alarm cam that when the indicator registers with an exposed graduation on the dial the alarm will be operated during the twelve hour period next following the setting operation. If the indicating mark is set on a covered graduation the alarm will operate during the second twelve hour period, and to permit such setting the back wall of the clock case may be provided with a transparent portion 15 to cover the graduations at the smaller side of the opening. Preferably this transparent cover is colored to clearly distinguish the colored cover graduations from the exposed graduations.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a, clock, an alarm device including a controlling member movable to an operative position or to an inoperative position, a cam to retain said member normally in said inoperative position and to release the same for movement to said operative position when said cam is in This opening is a predetermined position, means for moving said cam through one complete rotation in each twenty-four hour period, means for adjusting said cam to determine the'time at which said movablemember will be released, means including a manually operated push rod to restore said movable member to said inoperative position after it has been-released by said cam, an arm pivotally supported at one end and having adjacent its other end an opening to receive said push rod, said push rod having apart movable to a position to connect said arm and said rod for movement in unison, and a second cam rotating in timed relation to the first'mentioned cam and having a part to'move said arm in a. direction to retract said push rod.

2. In a clock, an alarm device including a controlling member movable to an-operative position or to an inoperative position, a cam to retain said member normally in said inoperative posi-. tion and to release the same for movement to said operative position when said cam is in a predetermined position, means for moving said cam through one complete rotation in each twenty-four hour period, means for adjusting said cam to determine the time at which said movable member will be released, a lever to move said controlling member to its inoperative position after it has been released by said cam, a push rod supported for both axial movement and rotary movement and having a conical portion to actuate said lever, a pivoted arm having an oblong opening through which said push rod extends, said push rod having lateral projections adapted when in one position to pass through said opening in said arm and when in another position to connect said push rod and said arm for movement in unison, and a second cam connected with the first mentioned cam for rotation therewith and having a part to move said pivoted arm in a direction to actuate said push rod.

3. In a clock, an alarm device including a controlling member movable to an operative position or to an inoperative position, a cam to retain said member normally in said inoperative position and to release the same for movement to said operative position when said cam is in a predetermined position, means formoving said cam through one complete rotation in each twenty-four hour 'period, means for adjusting said cam to determine the time at which said movable member will be released, a lever to move said controlling member to its inoperative position after it has been released by said cam, a push rod supported for both axial movement and rotary movement and having a conical portion to actuate said lever, a pivoted arm, means controlled by the rotary movement of said push rod to connect the same with said arm, a second cam connected with the first mentioned cam for rotation therewith and havin means to impart lateral movement to said arm, said push rod having means whereby it may be manually operated and means for yieldably resisting both the axial movement and the rotary movement of said push rod.

4. In a clock, a case, an alarm device, a cam rotatably supported in said case, means controlled by said cam for normally preventing the operation of said alarm device and for releasing the same for operation when said cam is in a predetermined position, means for imparting one complete rotation to said cam in each twentyfour hour period, a dial connected with said cam for rotation therewith and having thereon two outwardly facing series of twelve one hour graduations, means for adjusting said cam with relation to said dial to determine the time at which said alarm device will operate, said adjusting means including an indicator movable to a position to indicate a selected graduation in said dial, the back wall of said casing having therein an openin arranged to expose one-half of the graduations on said dial and to cover the other half of said graduations in all positions of the dial with relation to said opening.

5. In a clock, a case, an alarm device, a cam rotatably supported in said case, means controlled by said cam for normally preventing the operation of said alarm device and for releasing the same for operation when said cam is in a predetermined position, means for imparting one complete rotation to said cam in each twentyfour hour period, a transparent dial connected with said cam for rotation therewith and having thereon two outwardly facing series of twelve one hour graduations, means for adjusting said cam with relation to said dial to determine the time at which said alarm device will operate, said adjusting means including a gear located back of said transparent dial and having thereon an indicator, the back wall of said casin having therein an opening shaped to expose one-half of the graduations on said dial and to cover the other half of said graduations in all positions of said dial with relation to said opening.

6. In a clock, a case, an alarm device, a cam rotatably supported in said case, means controlled by said cam for normally preventing the operation of said alarm device and for releasing the same for operation when said cam is in a predetermined position, means for imparting one complete rotation to said cam in each twentyfour hour period, a transparent dial connected with said cam for rotation therewith and having thereon two outwardly facing series of twelve one hour graduations, means for adjusting said cam with relation to said dial to determine the time at which said alarm device will operate, said adjusting means including a gear located back of said transparent dial and havin thereon an indicator, the back wall of said casing having therein an opening shaped to expose one-half of the graduations on said dial, said wall having a transparent portion covering the other half of said graduations.

7. In a clock, an alarm, means controlled by the clock mechanism for operating said alarm and means for determining the time at which said alarm will operate, said time determining means including a rotatable dial having thereon two identical series of twelve one hour graduations, an indicator cooperating with said graduations, said clock having a wall on the outer side of said dial provided with an opening shaped to expose one-half of said graduations and to cover the other half of said graduations in all positions of said dial with relation to said opening, whereby the position of said indicator with relation to said graduations determines the twelve hour period during which said alarm will operate.

8. In a clock, an alarm, means controlled by the clock mechanism for operating said alarm and means for determining the time at which said alarm will operate, said time determining means including a rotatable dial having thereon two identical series of twelve one hour graduations, an indicator cooperating with said graduations, said clock having a wall on the outer side of said dial provided with an opening shaped to expose one-half of said graduations in all Dositions of said dial with relation to said opening, said wall having a transparent portion through which the other half of said graduations are visible, whereby the position of said indicator with relation to said graduations determines the twelve hour period during which said alarm will operate.

RUDOLPH J. RAHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 294,220 Goldman Feb. 26, 1884 956,824 Porter May 3, 1910 1,126,599 Weinmann Jan. 26, 1915 1,630,207 Newth May 24, 1927 1,907,106 Haydon May 2, 1933 1,910,983 Carlson May 23, 1933 1,974,409 Brower Sept. 25, 1934 2,091,770 Schlenker Aug. 31, 1937 2,421,986 Bohman June 10, 1947 

